Stitches & Swirls...

Hello, the Papertrey Ink girls are showcasing a new stamp set today called Stitches & Swirls!

As a quilter, I was inspired by this set to "stamp and stitch", so I chose a few of the images, stamped them with Pure Poppy ink and stitched away with red thread. This stamp set reminded me of Redwork! Have you heard of Redwork?

Redwork is an older form of embroidery which uses red floss to trace simple line drawings. Muslin squares were sold with the patterns marked for a penny each. These then could be used as quilt blocks with sashing added around the borders. Redwork was also used to embellish tea towels, aprons, pillow covers, splashers and other Victorian decorations, and were usually done in animal themes, children's themes, nature and kitchen themes.

First, I stamped the image on white cardstock. My needle is threaded with 2 stands of red thread and tied in a knot at the end. I didn't poke a hole at EVERY stitch on the stamped image, because the stitches are super small and it would have taken me forever to do all of those. So I poked a hole about every other stitch. When doing sharp turns, you'll have to poke holes more often and make the stitches smaller. Here is a shot in progress:

Now I'll admit, this technique is time consuming! But something you can do while watching TV or listening to music! Wouldn't a set of these cards be a nice gift? You could also do this on fabric and frame it, or make these into a pillow or quilt. The possibilities are really endless!

When I run out of thread, I tape the end to the back and start with another piece of floss right where I left off. You'll end up with messy threads inside like this. I just cut another piece of white cardstock and adhered it to the inside cover to hide the stitching...

I was afraid to stamp a sentiment DIRECTLY onto my card - after all that time I spent stitching! I didn't want to mess up with the stamping and have to start completely over. So I stamped some sentiments from a new set called Willow onto a strip of white cardstock and attached it to my card.

I love Redwork...I actually bought 2 pillows for my daughter's bed a long time ago that have Redwork on them!

Stitched card set:

Stamps: Stitches & Swirls, Willow
Ink: Pure Poppy, Smokey Shadow
Paper: white cardstock
Dies: none
Other: red thread, Melissa Frances pearls.

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If you'd like to try this technique in a smaller scale, pick a smaller floral image from the set like I did here and give it a whirl...

This is stamped onto a deep purple cardstock and stitched with white floss. I left the center flower not stitched, I only stitched the inside of the flower petals and the leaves.

Good Heavens card:

Stamps: Stitches & Glory Be
Ink: Fresh Snow, True Black
Paper: Nantucket by Pink Paislee, purple cardstock by PTI
Dies: Pinking Shears Border Die
Other: ribbon by Papertrey Ink, chipboard by Studio Calico, pin by LYB, 

lace unknown, resin flower unknown, Melissa Frances pearl.

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Thank you for visiting me today! Stitches & Swirls will be available on the 15th at Papertrey Ink. Please visit the other girls to see what they've made with this stamp set also!

Ashley Cannon Newell

Betsy Veldman  

Dawn McVey  

Erin Lincoln  

Heather Nichols  

Jessica Witty  

Lisa Johnson  

Maile Belles

Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady